Sedona wildfire forces evacuations
Pocket Fire burns 100 acres near Sedona, triggering evacuations and SR 89A closure
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Key Points
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The Pocket Fire was first reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to coverage that tied the report time to the subsequent evacuations and orders.
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Authorities described the blaze as burning near the Coconino County–Yavapai County line, north of Sedona and northwest of Indian Gardens—more specific than the general “near East Pocket” description.
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Smoke was reported as visible from multiple nearby areas.
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Arizona officials shut down State Route 89A for 23 miles between Sedona and Interstate 17, rather than only specifying the milepost range.
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The fire’s starting point was described as near East Pocket, also known as the “Edge of the World.”
A wildfire called the Pocket Fire ignited Friday afternoon near East Pocket — nicknamed the "Edge of the World" — about seven miles north of Sedona, Arizona. The blaze burned at least 100 acres in the Red Rock–Secret Mountain Wilderness and grew to roughly 500 acres by late Friday night, according to 12News.
Arizona officials shut down all 23 miles of State Route 89A between Sedona and Interstate 17. Mandatory "GO" evacuation orders covered Oak Creek Canyon, West Fork camping areas, and dispersed sites near Forest Road 231. Containment stood at 0% as of early Saturday morning.
Fire Doubles to 500 Acres Overnight With Zero Containment
The Pocket Fire was first reported around 5:00 PM on Friday, June 19, AzEIN reported. By 7:10 PM, the Coconino National Forest confirmed 100 acres burned and declared a full suppression strategy. But by 9:25 PM, 12News reported the fire had surged to 500 acres. Air tankers were grounded at nightfall, leaving the fire to spread through steep canyon terrain unhindered until dawn.
Fire crews on the ground included two Hotshot crews, five engines, and one bulldozer, with more resources en route, according to FOX 10. The Sedona Fire Department said it was "coordinating with all our local partners," per Hindustan Times. By 5:00 AM Saturday, crews were waiting for daylight to resume heavy air operations.
SR 89A Shut 23 Miles, Evacuation Routes Bottlenecked
The Arizona Department of Transportation closed State Route 89A in both directions between mileposts 374 and 397 — a 23-mile stretch — with no reopening estimate, AzFamily reported. SR 89A is the main road connecting Sedona to Flagstaff. With it closed, evacuees had to use alternate routes through Interstate 17, creating traffic bottlenecks.
Evacuees near the "Edge of the World" faced additional confusion. Some officials initially advised using Forest Road 231 to exit toward Flagstaff. But authorities later warned against it, as FR 231 was being reserved for incoming firefighting equipment, according to Rolling Out. The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Red Rock Junior High School in Sedona at 10:00 PM Friday.
Canyon Campers Ordered Out as Terrain Stymies Ground Crews
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office issued a GO order — meaning leave immediately — for all of Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Forest Highlands. The order covered dispersed camping sites around West Fork and areas above the canyon rim. Dispersed camping areas often lack clear exit routes and may have fewer people receiving emergency alerts, making early evacuation orders critical.
The fire's location made ground access extremely difficult. East Pocket sits at the edge of a 2,000-foot drop with panoramic views of Sedona's red rock formations, according to AzFamily. That same rugged terrain that draws hikers also forced firefighters to rely heavily on air resources before sunset Friday to slow the fire's advance before darkness grounded aircraft.
Cause Unknown, Fire Season Already Stressing Regional Resources
Officials said Friday night that the cause of the Pocket Fire remains unknown. The blaze ignited near a popular dispersed camping area, which raises the possibility of human ignition, though lightning has been a factor in recent Northern Arizona fires, Rolling Out noted. Investigators have not pointed to any specific cause.
The Pocket Fire arrived during an already-taxed fire season. The Coconino National Forest had been battling the Mundy Fire — reported June 16, five miles south of Sedona — and the Mormon Fire on Mormon Mountain, reported June 15. The timing over a peak summer weekend, just after Father's Day, is expected to hit Sedona's tourism economy hard, with Oak Creek Canyon closed to visitors during one of the busiest weeks of the year.
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